Antony Chawagarira
HARARE — At least 13 women and children have been killed in domestic and intimate partner-related incidents across Zimbabwe since June, prompting Shamwari Yemwanasikana to call for urgent national action to protect women and children from escalating violence.
The organisation, which advocates for the rights and protection of girls, said the deaths were documented between June and September 2026 in Chikanga, Nkulumane, Southlea Park, Shamva, Hatfield, Darwendale, and Glen View, with a Zimbabwean family in the diaspora also reportedly affected.
Among the victims were a pregnant woman, a serving officer, mothers, and children, including a seven-month-old infant.
Shamwari Yemwanasikana said the reported cases point to a disturbing pattern in which disagreements within families and intimate relationships end in fatal violence.
“These are no longer domestic disputes; they are acts of femicide that show how minor disagreements are turning into brutal murders,” the organisation said.
The organisation’s greatest concern is the impact of the killings on children who survived the incidents, particularly those who witnessed their mothers being killed.
It said such children face trauma and could be exposed to neglect, stigma, exploitation, and other forms of secondary abuse if adequate protection and support are not provided.
“Every girl deserves a safe home. We will not continue counting bodies while children suffer twice,” Shamwari Yemwanasikana said.
The organisation called on the Zimbabwe Gender Commission to exercise its constitutional mandate and escalate the issue to the Office of the President, Parliament, and relevant ministries for urgent action.
It also appealed to the Department of Social Welfare, the Victim Friendly Unit, and child protection organisations to provide immediate psychosocial support, safe shelter, and long-term care for children left behind.
Shamwari Yemwanasikana said children affected by the killings need an environment that allows them to continue their education, play, and recovery despite the trauma they have experienced.
The organisation said it will continue its Home Should Be Safe campaign while working with child protection actors to strengthen measures aimed at preventing further violence and protecting children from secondary abuse.
It said the reported killings should prompt a coordinated response involving government institutions, law enforcement agencies, and organisations working in gender and child protection.
Shamwari Yemwanasikana said it stands in solidarity with families affected by the incidents and remains committed to protecting women and children from violence.
